Chapter 45

Guan Yuanfeng was fully focused on speaking to Zhou Yun, his face showing a tenderness and appreciation he hadn’t even realized himself.

However, the special forces members around the fire, roasting lamb, clearly saw this change and were a bit envious. “Captain Guan has changed a lot. He used to always have such a serious expression.”

“Today, watching Captain Guan, Doctor Zhou, and Comet working together—it’s so in sync. Even the zombie king didn’t stand a chance.”

“Wind and electricity dual abilities, Captain Guan is really too strong.” Su Jianing interjected from the side, “No wonder the captain asked me if dual abilities are rare. It turns out Captain Guan has wind and electricity dual abilities.” His eyes sparkled. “The experts at the research institute must be thrilled.”

Wu Jun gave him a cold look. “Stop always thinking about how to research people. Why don’t you research a zombie vaccine? If we could get regular people vaccinated and prevent them from being infected by zombies, we could be a lot more free when dealing with them!”

Su Jianing scratched his nose. “But the mainstream view right now is that the power sources of zombies and ability users are similar. Being infected by the zombie virus might even lead to evolution into an ability user, so no one’s really researching vaccines… Besides, don’t you all want to safely and steadily have abilities? We’re working toward that goal too.”

Dong Kexin sneered, “I think it’s because the capital investment and support are only focused on the evolution of supernatural abilities. It’s the same as before the apocalypse, where capital decides everything. The only difference now is that the people who control the capital have changed.”

Su Jianing felt a bit wronged: “At the Zhongzhou base, including myself, many supernatural beings have signed service agreements with the base and research agreements with the Supernatural Research Institute. We still provide blood samples to the institute every month. We’re all doing our best for research on how to safely awaken supernatural abilities for ordinary people. The base also has rescue and treatment missions, and all supernatural beings are the first to respond when called. We enjoy certain privileges, but we also fulfill our duties.”

Dong Kexin glanced at him: “Isn’t it because early supernatural beings were too weak, and we needed ordinary people to hunt countless crystal cores for you, which is why you signed these agreements? It’s just a mutual benefit.”

Su Jianing wanted to say something, but then he saw Zhou Yun stand up and walk into the room. With Guanyuan Feng’s side now empty, he quickly got up and walked over to him.

Guanyuan Feng was feeling uncomfortable and, seeing Su Jianing approach, remembered how Su Jianing had asked him, upon meeting Zhou Yun, whether the data on limb regeneration after awakening supernatural abilities had been recorded, in a way that seemed to imply he would definitely cooperate with the research institute.

After the apocalypse, had the “Supernatural Research Institute” come to assume that all supernatural beings should cooperate with their research?

What would happen if they didn’t cooperate?

Even the soldiers, who were ordinary people, were required to sign a “voluntary” agreement to cooperate with the research…

Supernatural beings were above ordinary people, and the research institute, under the guise of researching supernatural abilities, placed itself above the supernatural beings as well.

Thinking about it, Zhou Yun had indeed gotten angry when Su Jianing suggested he become a volunteer research subject. Zhou Yun, who was normally so calm and rational, had gotten so angry that he had exploded. Zhou Yun had never felt safe, and now he had to go to the Zhongzhou base with his teammates. Being a careful person, he must have already considered the possibility that he might become a research subject.

Guanyuan Feng’s expression was cold: “What is it?”

Su Jianing, who had seen him speak to Zhou Yun with a smile and a warm demeanor, now found him with a serious and stern face, which was a bit unfamiliar. But recalling that before his retirement, the captain had always been this cold, he suppressed his fear and smiled as he asked: “Captain, you and Doctor Zhou are neighbors, right? Where is his house? I heard him say it’s also in a building in this small neighborhood?”

Guanyuan Feng said, “If you have something to say, say it directly. Don’t beat around the bush.”

Su Jianing replied, “I saw that you have a hive of bees in your backyard. These bees have mutated and are quite rare. I thought I could discuss it with Doctor Zhou and, when we return, we could try to bring the mutated queen bee with us.”

“The royal jelly of the queen bee contains decanoic acid, which has excellent antibacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-radiation effects. It also boosts immunity and helps with anti-aging and maintaining cellular vitality. Before the apocalypse, it was widely used in life science research.”

“Also…” Su Jianing pointed at a giant cactus nearby. At first, he thought it was a normal cactus, but upon closer inspection, he noticed the cactus had silver streaks, and the large, dark green body had a pale pink flower blooming on top. It turned out to be a mutated Black Feather Jade.

In this cold winter, it’s not easy for a cactus to survive outdoors in Danlin City, which is not a tropical region. He later noticed other plants in the yard—such as the dark green cactus along the wall, the jasmine and trumpet vine near the flowerbeds, and the camellias—were all mutated plants. He had originally overlooked this, thinking it was just an ordinary garden. There were so many mutated plants here, and he wondered if they were connected to the mutated bees.

He was both surprised and delighted. Research institutes were currently focusing on mutated plants, as it had been shown that the effects of these plants were enhanced. Supernatural beings using mutated plants and animals could also quickly replenish energy.

However, mutated plants were rare and only brought back by those out on missions for the base, where they could exchange them for points. The research institute kept them for further study, but due to the cold winter, many mutated plants would die from improper cultivation.

However, it seemed that after spring, mutated plants might become more abundant in the wild. Once he returned to release a mission to collect mutated bees, plants, and herbs, he believed that people would eagerly bring them to him, hoping that, in the future, when danger arises, he could provide assistance with his healing abilities.

He tried to convince Captain Guanyuan, thinking that perhaps Captain Guanyuan and Zhou Yun didn’t understand the value of these things. Captain Guanyuan, being such a principled person, might think that he was trying to steal from the people. They didn’t realize how much the world had changed outside. They might not know about the special nature of the research institute, but having kept these mutated plants for so long, they likely had developed some emotional attachment and might not fully understand their significance.

“Black Feather Jade is a well-known hallucinogenic cactus, containing multiple alkaloids. If it mutates, the hallucinogenic effects would definitely be enhanced. Alkaloids can be extracted and used for many studies, especially now that the appearance of mutated plants and animals has validated some theories of traditional medicine… In future medical research, there will certainly be a focus on the medicinal properties of mutated plants and animals, as well as research on enhancing and activating supernatural abilities.”

Su Jianing looked at Guanyuan Feng with deep enthusiasm: “I spoke to Doctor Zhou, and if he’s willing to donate to the research institute, I could recommend him to my mentor. With this mutated queen bee, he could easily enter the institute as a core researcher and join some of the key projects.”

“But Doctor Zhou probably doesn’t understand the status of the Supernatural Research Institute and is unwilling to do so.”

“I’m not after anything from him. I am a Light-type healer, and as long as there are missions at the base to collect mutated herbs and animals, people will bring them to me. But Doctor Zhou is your friend, and I can form a research group with him. I will apply for funding for the project and guarantee his name on the research.”

He explained, “For example, comets, mutated animals can be tamed, and this research is very valuable.”

Guan Yuanfeng stared at him, silent.

Since the apocalypse, Su Jianing had awakened his light-based healing abilities, and everywhere he went, he was met with smiles. Everyone flattered and sought his favor, and he received unprecedented attention and resource allocation. He was given priority access to crystal cores to level up and was welcomed by many powerful figures who had once looked down on him, inviting him to treat their family members.

It had been a long time since he had been stared at so harshly by Guan Yuanfeng, who remained silent but radiated an oppressive force. The familiar fear, one that had been instilled in him when he was strictly disciplined by Guan Yuanfeng before the apocalypse, surged again.

He forcibly suppressed the fear creeping up his spine and unintentionally lowered his voice. “I know Brother Zhou isn’t a soldier or a public servant, and he has no obligation to contribute his property… I just want what’s best for him. You and Dr. Zhou have been living here, and you don’t know how much the various bases outside value the study of abilities. The ability research institutes are places that researchers from all bases aspire to join. It’s a rare opportunity to enter one. Contributing to the research institute would also benefit humanity…”

He tried to steady his voice and defend himself. “I’m not trying to morally blackmail him, but since Brother Zhou just arrived at the base, it’s better for him to be involved in some important projects to get into the core research circle… He studied traditional medicine, and this would be a great opportunity for him to explore the mutated herbs and animals, opening up a new world…”

Guan Yuanfeng stared at him for a long time before asking, “During the battle today, when facing the zombie horde, you didn’t follow orders, but instead, you criticized and complained first.”

“You never used to act so unprofessionally. At least you used to show some humility and obedience. Your father and brothers have contributed greatly to the country, and both General Tan and I saw that they took extra care of you. But you never acted so arrogantly, selfishly, or entitled before. What changed? The precious healing abilities? The special status of the research institute? The privileges of an ability user?”

Su Jianing’s face paled, and he quickly tried to explain, “Captain Guan, I was just in a rush. The enemy is zombies now, things are different. This is the apocalypse, and people are dying every day…”

Guan Yuanfeng asked him thoughtfully, “Su Jianing, I saved you. Although I never tried to show off, you came to me out of gratitude, yet you immediately started asking for this and that. Zhou Yuen clearly rejected you, and you came to me. Those are things Zhou Yuen planted and raised—why do you think I would support you and try to convince Dr. Zhou?”

“Deep down, you despise him, even though he’s also a very powerful ability user?”

Su Jianing stammered, flustered as he tried to defend himself, “Captain, I would never repay kindness with enmity… I just think this would be better…”

Guan Yuanfeng interrupted him, “You’re not looking down on him, since you’ve only known him for a few days. What you’re really doing is looking down on me.”

“After you joined the team, I was strict with you, and you couldn’t accept it. You felt superior, thinking that your family background was better, your expertise more in demand, and that one day you’d surpass me and make me regret treating you so harshly. You think I bullied, suppressed, and humiliated you, and you long for the day when you can rise above me and take your revenge.”

Su Jianing’s face turned red with embarrassment. “I didn’t!”

Guan Yuanfeng coldly continued, using the same cruel words as before, mocking him as he had in the past when Su Jianing failed his tasks: “But I saved you, and you owe me. You couldn’t do anything, so you had to ask your family to arrange a good teaching job for me in the military school, hoping to repay your debt. At the time, with my injuries and phantom pains, I couldn’t teach, and you wanted me to accept a salary without teaching… Could such an empty honor last? I rejected it and went back to my hometown, completely leaving your circles behind.”

He watched Su Jianing tremble, unable to speak, and continued, “During the apocalypse, you awakened your abilities. You rushed to come to my aid because you heard that I hadn’t awakened any abilities. You were eager to see me struggle in the zombie apocalypse, wanting to stand in front of me as the savior with light abilities, and make me your research subject. You wanted me to cry and beg for your help, regret not treating you well, and then beg you to treat me. After finding out that I had awakened abilities, you couldn’t wait to use my data to advance your academic career… So is this how you repay great kindness with great hatred?”

Su Jianing’s tears rolled down his face. “Captain Guan, how could you think that about me? I didn’t!”

Guan Yuanfeng replied coldly, “If you really felt grateful, why didn’t you come to help me when Captain Tan could still contact me?”

“What were you busy with at the time? Fighting for a spot on the ship? After the winter passed, with the base being so tight, what would have happened to an ordinary person with no abilities and a double-leg amputation during the long winter siege by zombies? Couldn’t you imagine what would happen? Why didn’t you come to save your benefactor?”

Su Jianing’s lips trembled. “I… I had just awakened my abilities and didn’t know what they were. I thought it might be a new virus. Everyone told me I couldn’t leave easily… Captain… I wanted to come… I thought General Tan would take care of you…”

Guan Yuanfeng calmly responded, “Yes, you were too weak at the time and couldn’t show off in front of me. Now, you are the most powerful healer, pampered at the base and flattered by everyone. You can finally stand tall in front of me, so you rushed to come to my aid…”

He looked at Su Jianing and sarcastically said, “But unfortunately, I also have abilities—dual abilities, and my combat strength is extraordinary. You still owe me a debt, and you’re feeling frustrated, but you don’t dare to vent in front of me, so you target Dr. Zhou instead.”

“Su Jianing, you think I don’t understand your little thoughts? I don’t say anything because I can’t be bothered to argue with you. Do you think others can’t see it?”

“Why don’t the brothers in the team treat you as one of their own? Your disdain for them is too obvious. They were polite and accommodating to you before, hoping you could save me, but now that it’s no longer necessary, their disdain for you has immediately shown.”

“You’ve felt it yourself, so you’re eager to regain your sense of superiority through Doctor Zhou. You deliberately want to take the most cherished thing from him, show off your superiority, and use my ignorance about the base and the research institute to make things difficult for Zhou Yun, trying to preemptively control him, making him rely on you to satisfy your hidden vanity.”

Su Jianing was on the verge of breaking down: “Captain! I didn’t! You’re wronging me!”

It was as if he had returned to the painful days when he first joined the Special Forces, when Guan Yuanfeng corrected his tactical moves again and again, making him redo training over and over, coldly criticizing him, ruthlessly attacking and insulting him, poking at his most painful spots with every word.

“Are you relying on the achievements of your father and brothers to enjoy privileges in the Special Forces? Why don’t you go somewhere else? Why come here? Do you keep making mistakes because you want others’ lives to help you climb?”

“Everyone else can complete this level of training, why can’t you? Once you’re in the Special Forces, there are no privileges. If you want privileges, leave early.”

“The price of making a mistake in the Special Forces is death. You’re a murderer!”

Countless cold words were like poisonous thorns, each suffocating sentence he still remembered. He cried late at night in his bed, doubting that Guan Yuanfeng was deliberately trying to force him to quit, suspecting that everyone in the Special Forces was against him, watching him make a fool of himself. His life had never been so dark and humiliating, never had he been so belittled.

He finally decided to give up, but his father harshly reprimanded him, forbidding him from quitting halfway. He was disheartened, planning to slack off and leave the team. Then, the captain unexpectedly saved him.

He owed an immense debt, owed the Special Forces. He could never go back on his decision. He regretted a thousand times why he chose to join the Special Forces when he could have focused on academics. He only did it because he couldn’t stand his father only valuing his older brother… always looking down on him…

Su Jianing trembled all over, his stress response triggered by the painful memories of those days. He relived the suffocating pain, feeling like the same broken soldier, the pitiful one looked down upon by his father and older brother, who always needed the family to arrange everything for him…

Guan Yuanfeng, however, was relentless: “You’re just angry because I hit the nail on the head. You clearly have so many people willing to provide you with mutated animals and mutated herbs, yet you deliberately want to take Zhou Yun’s. Isn’t that intentional?”

Su Jianing screamed: “Captain! I didn’t! I didn’t! I’m not someone who repays kindness with hatred! I’m thinking about him!”

The Special Forces members had been quietly observing, but now hearing his scream, they exchanged glances. The captain had always criticized him privately, never in front of the team, giving him face. Yet he cried every time he returned to the dormitory, as if he had suffered a huge injustice.

Now? What did he do to anger the captain?

Everyone had long been displeased with his arrogance and were now somewhat gleeful, though they tactfully didn’t approach to inquire.

But Guan Yuanfeng still poked at his weaknesses: “No? Then why did you immediately want me to be a test subject? You wanted Comet to be a test subject, wanted the flowers and plants we raised to be test subjects. In your eyes, everything can be a test subject because you don’t regard others as humans. The apocalypse has exposed your true nature…”

Su Jianing screamed in despair: “Captain, why do you think I’m such a vile person? I signed the research institute’s experiment agreement! I’m willing to contribute to science! Many people with abilities have signed it! We’re all doing this for humanity’s future!” He cried, gasping for air, trembling all over…

Guan Yuanfeng’s voice was sharp: “What was your intention when you tried to convince me to be a test subject? Did you think that since I’m disabled, I would agree? Now that I don’t agree, are you planning to go back and continue using your influence to morally blackmail me, claiming it’s for the hope of all humanity, that all the people with abilities volunteered, to force me to cooperate with you on research?”

“Do you still plan to tell your mentor about this mutated bee and flowers and plants, getting them to persuade me, all for your little scientific achievements… Talking about benevolence and morality, doing all this for humanity, greedy and shameless, leaving nothing untouched…”

Su Jianing broke down: “Captain! If I had this intention, let heaven strike me down with thunder! I didn’t! I won’t tell my mentor about these small things! They’re just mutated plants and animals! Many people are helping me! If I ever ask you to cooperate with research in the future, you can summon lightning to strike me down!”

Guan Yuanfeng no longer concealed his oppressive aura, coldly watching him, as if warning or ordering: “You’d better not have.”

He calmly stated the truth: “I’ve never been afraid of your father and brothers, they even boarded the ship. What makes you think you have the right to show off in front of me?”

Su Jianing, tear-streaked and filled with anger, frustration, and shame, turned and rushed back to the villa, directly into his room, slamming the door, and like before, threw himself onto the bed, crying.

Guan Yuanfeng didn’t pay him any more attention. He glared at the Special Forces members, who were all gossiping and exchanging glances, and turned to walk towards the backyard door of the villa. He immediately saw Zhou Yun standing there, with Comet by his side, smiling warmly at him.

Guan Yuanfeng felt a little awkward. His face, originally full of anger, was momentarily unable to change its expression. He cleared his throat: “Did you hear that? I did it on purpose… I was afraid he would go back and cause trouble for us, so I decided to provoke him a little. He owes me a great debt, and if I rile him up like this, he’s too soft-hearted to bother us anymore.”

He anxiously looked at Zhou Yun’s expression, afraid that Zhou Yun might misunderstand his harsh side: “Normally, I treat all team members equally, I don’t bully him. He just can’t handle hardship.”

Zhou Yun smiled: “Thank you, Captain Guan, for standing up for me.”

Guan Yuanfeng let out a sigh of relief: “I was afraid you’d misunderstand, thinking I really bullied him… but he really does show his intentions on his face. A lot of new recruits are like that. When they first come in, they all have this look, thinking they’ll surpass you in rank one day, seeking revenge. In the end, they all settle down.”

Zhou Yun laughed lightly, “I’ve known you for so long, and I’ve only known him for a few days. How could I trust him?”

Guan Yuanfeng looked down at Comet, “Didn’t you just say you were feeding the dog? You’ve already taken care of it, right?”

Zhou Yun replied, “Mm… I made you a bowl of noodles.”

Guan Yuanfeng was somewhat confused, “I just had a lot of grilled meat. Why did you go through the trouble of making noodles for me?”

Zhou Yun smiled, “Come in.”

Guan Yuanfeng lowered his head slightly and stepped inside, noticing the gas stove was lit with a small flame. Since the apocalypse, whenever he went out to gather supplies, he had moved several gas canisters back to store, but now, since he wasn’t there, even though there was electricity, it still wasn’t reliable.

The soup in the small pot was boiling hot, bubbles rising up, and white steam spiraled upwards. Zhou Yun washed the green onions in his hand and sprinkled them into the soup.

Guan Yuanfeng then realized that Zhou Yun must have been planning to pick green onions from the garden and happened to overhear him scolding Su Jianing.

Zhou Yun lifted the pot and poured the noodles into a beautifully crafted large bowl. The noodles were long, smooth, and light yellow in color, sprinkled with green onions. The soup contained dried scallops, shrimp, and thin, translucent pink lamb slices, looking very well-prepared.

Zhou Yun said, “It’s fish noodles, made with mutated silver carp meat ground into fish paste, then mixed with flour to form dough. It’s very fresh, you should try it.”

Guan Yuanfeng smiled, “Why just one bowl? You should eat together.”

But Zhou Yun handed him a pair of chopsticks with a smile in his eyes, “This is longevity noodles, of course, the birthday person eats them. Happy birthday.”

Guan Yuanfeng was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. “I’ve completely forgotten what day it is, today’s the 26th of April? How did you know today was my birthday?”

Zhou Yun smiled, “I found your old student ID while cleaning up your stuff at home. I thought, with your personality, you probably don’t like the noisy celebration of birthdays. I figured your team probably didn’t know either, so I made a bowl of longevity noodles for you.”

Guan Yuanfeng sat down, picked up the chopsticks, and tried to pick up a noodle. It turned out to be a single, continuous strand of longevity noodle, long and unbroken, symbolizing long-lasting life. It was clear that Zhou Yun had put a lot of thought into it. His heart warmed, and just as he was about to express his gratitude, he heard Zhou Yun continue, “After all, when you go to Central Base, there won’t be many chances to cook noodles for you anymore.”

Guan Yuanfeng: “…”

Zhou Yun’s smile became even more mischievous, “But I steamed the fish noodles, then cut them into strips and dried them, making a dry fish noodle that’s easy to store. I’ll bring it with me when you leave. Whenever you’re hungry, just boil some hot water, add the noodles, and you can eat. You can add meat, eggs, or sprinkle green onions. I heard that food in the base is rationed and scarce. You can cook for yourself in the dorm, and since it’s mutated fish, you won’t go hungry.”

Guan Yuanfeng lightly coughed, “Mm… Thank you for letting me spend my birthday alone.” A soft, indescribable feeling rose in his heart, a mix of bitterness and sorrow, like needles pricking at his heart.

He lowered his eyelashes, looking at the bowl, picked up the chopsticks, and ate the noodles. The noodles were soft, smooth, and fragrant, and the steaming heat wafted up to his face. He suddenly felt warmth in his eyes.